
P6 



Poems 









DEC 21 1921 



"Poems of Nature' 



Poems and songs, I love to write, 
They come to me both day and night; 
A?id if everyone would love to write the 

same as I, 
They would want to keep on living and 

never, nerer die. 

F. E. HEAD. Author. 




F. E. HEAD, Author 



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POEM Three 

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The Old Home 

Over the hills and far away, 

To the dear old home of my boyhood day: 

Many hours I have played in the meadows green, 

Gathering flowers, and fishing- in the stream. 

You could hear the sound of the water mills, 

That run all day until the sun set below the western hills. 

You could hear the song of birds from morning until night. 

Until the day was gone and there was no light. 

At the farm house you could hear the dogs bark, 
And the whipporwill a singing after dark. 
Now those large forests are all cut away, 
And there is no place for the wild deer to stay. 
My dear old mother and father have gone to rest. 
Oh, they were the ones that I loved best. 

My sisters and brothers are gone from that cabin door, 

And it is very seldom that I see them any more. 

Those were the happiest days of all 

At the dear old home where the trees were so tall. 

There are many things that I could tell 

Of that dear old home that I loved so well. 



4 i 



Four 



POEM 




POEM Five 



Springtime 



Spring, Spring 1 , the beautiful Spring, 

When it comes we hear the birds sing: 

Everyone seems so cheerful and gay, 

For the long Winter months have faded away. 

It is so nice to see the grass so green, 

And the people fishing along the little stream. 

The wild flowers are all in blow, 

How much nicer they look than the white snow. 

The children gather them as through the fields they run, 

For the Spring is here and the nice warm sun. 

The little bee lights on a flower and then flies away, 

It is gathering honey for a rainy day. 

The butterfly, with its golden wings, 

On the trees and bushes light, 

First on one and then another and soon is out of sight. 

The warm sunny days glide along so fast, 

It does not seem long and the Summer is past. 



Six POEM 



Greed for Gold 



While on earth he toiled and hoarded 
Every cent that he could make ; 
Had no time for earthly pleasures 
Or a day's vacation take. 
Had no eyes for Nature's beauty 
And the things that God had wrought, 
Only thought with greed and yearning 
Of the things that money bought. 

Money, money, yellow gold, 
He had wealth a thousand fold ; 
He had bonds, and farms, and houses, 
Wrung from others to be sold. 
But to this man with all his riches 
Came a day with blackest night, 
When he found, despite his gainings 
That his eyes had lost their sight. 

Did he turn then to God who gave him 
This great gift he had enjoyed ; 
Did he after this affliction 
Seek out those he had employed. 
Did he right his wrongs to others 
While his life to him was spared ? 
He had wealth enough and plenty 
That he could with others shared. 

Then to him as to all others 
Came the summons from on high 
The grim Reaper called upon him 
To lay down his wealth and die. 
To the land where he was going 
All his gold would count for naught. 
Well for him had he but heeded 
The blest things his bible taught. 



POEM Seven 

Nature 

Open your eyes and see the beauty 
Of the skies, the grass, the trees, 
Listen to the birds 7 sweet music 
And the murmur of the breeze. 
List to the brook's wild cadence 
As it seeks the water fall, 
Awake to Nature's beauty 
That surrounds us one and all. 

Leave dull care and daily worries 
Let them fare as how they will, 
While you take a little ramble 
'er the grassy, rolling hill. 
Let your eyes search out the beauties 
Spread by Nature all around, 
From the blue arched sky above you 
To the flower studded ground. 

Every sound is one of sweetness 

To a Nature loving heart, 

Every insect, stone, and grass blade 

Of the Universe a part. 

Watch the little bird that soars, 

High into the heaven's blue, 

How he sings while upwards flitting 

On his tiny wings so true. 

Hear the bumble bee's dull humming 
As it lumbers o'er the flowers, 
See the oriole a swinging, 
In its tree before a shower. 
Listen to the wind's low murmur 
As it sighs among the trees, 
Listen to the gentle rustle 
As it stirs a million leaves. 

Hark to the voice of Nature 
In sunshine and in storm, 
Wish not for sunny weather 
When the rain comes softly down. 
For though you love the sunshine, 
We also need the rain, 
And as Summer follows ♦Springtime, 
So the sun will shine again. 



Eight 



POEM 



His Last Message 

O, just a moment, dear brother 
Will you take a message from me? 
Take it to my dear mother 
Far across the deep Blue Sea ; 
Tell her "that I fought bravely 
As long as I could stand, 
But when a bullet pierced my side 
I knew then I was going, 
To that happy land." 

Tell my mother, when you see her, 

Oh, tell her "not to weep," 

For my troubles will soon be over 

And I will go to that everlasting sleep. 

When last we parted, she kissed me goodbye 

And said "my boy, this will be the last time 

We will be together, you and I. 

Tell her ' ' to keep this message 

And not throw it away," 

It is the last one she will get from me 

For I have gone to stay. 

So, fare you well dear mother, 

I will never be again by your side, 

For I will be laid away across the sea so wide. 

And now, my dear brother, to you I '11 say goodbye, 

Hoping you will not follow the same as T. 



POEM Nine 



My Father's Boyhood Days 

Back to my old home where I first saw the light. 

Through the summer you could hear the song of birds 

And the whippoorwill at night. 

Far off in the woods you could hear the cow bell, 

And back of the house was the old stone well. 

At night you could hear the screech owls hoot, 

And many wild deers we would shoot. 

The rattler and blue racers crawling on the ground, 
You would see them in the woods and see them all around. 
Day after day through the woods I would roam, 
A-hunting and a-fishing far away from our home. 
Wild ducks and geese would fly over in big flocks, 
There was plenty of game — partridges and woodcocks. 
Many of wolves and bears you would see, 
And panthers alaying up in a crotch of a tree. 

Along the streams the kingfishers built their nests in the sand. 

And you could see the beavers building their dam. 

All kinds of wild berries on bushes and tree, 

And pretty wild flowers were as thick as could be. 

For miles we would go along the Indian trail, 

To trade our furs and get our mail. 

Those days were happy ones and pleasant to me, 

For I was raised in the forest, you see. 



Ten 



POEM 




POEM Eleven 



My Mother 



In her armchair slowly fading 
As the days so swiftly fly, 
Sits my own dear old mother 
With the reaper hovering- nigh. 
I can see that she is failing 
As she sits so patiently, 
Listening for the Angel whisper 
And I hear her gently sigh. 

Breaking hearts yon '11 leave behind you 

That will grieve forever more, 

But your trials will all be over 

When you reach that glistening shore. 

Your working days are over 

All toil and worry past, 

And you know there's one, dear Mother, 

That will love you till the last. 

There is in my heart a picture 
Of your face so sweet and fair, 
Not of twinkling eyes and dimples 
But of silvery, snow white hair ; 
Wrinkled hands so calmly folded 
Waiting for the end to come, 
Knowing that your days are numbered 
And your race is nearly run. 



Twelve POEM 



The Old Oak Tree 

There was an old oak that stood near our house by the road 
For years it stood up and faced the hard winds and held up its 

load. 
In sunshine, snow, rain and all kinds of storm, 
It swayed and it would twist but it kept its good form. 
How nice it was for travelers to stop under this tree and rest 
And the birds in this tree would build their nests. 
On hot Summer days people would stop there and set 
To cool off their body and dry up their sweat. 

My mother would sit there with me when she was quite young, 

And many old songs that she sung. 

Those songs now are all out of date, 

For I never have heard any of them of late. 

The blackbird and blue jay when they went south, 

Would light and rest in this tree on their way. 

It was a great place for cattle to stay 

And in under the shade of the tree they would lay. 

The lovers as they would take a walk, 

Would stop under this tree and talk. 

They are the ones that would miss it the most of all, 

For many girls have been kissed beneath this tree so tall. 

One day there came a big wind and blowed the tree down. 

The noble old tree laid its length on the ground. 

No more will we lay in your shade to keep off the heat, 

No more will we sit on the grass at your feet. 

Your limbs they are broken and your body is split, 

And no more in your shade will we sit. 

The people will long for your shade in vain, 

Your branches will never shelter us again. 

Now the old tree is gone, and it soon will decay, 

But we will not forget it for many a day. 



POEM Thirteen 



Farewell to the Farm 

My working days are through and over 

So I will quit the fields of clover ; 

And no more I will have to hire, 

For I will leave the old farm and retire. 

No more I will plough the fields and sow the seeds, 

Or cultivate the ground to kill the weeds. 

No more will I work in the hayfield 

For that is not so soft, 

A-drawing the hay and putting it up in the loft. 

No more will I milk the cows, 

In the morning or at night. 

Or run all over the country after them, 

When they are out of sight. 

I am a-quitting to move far away, 

And let some one else work the clay. 

The auto is a- waiting at the door, 

We will leave the old farm and bid it farewell. 

The place where for so many years we did dwell 

We are leaving the meadow and the long lane, 

And the little house that sheltered us, 

From the snow and the rain. 

The old-fashioned roses are all in blow, 

But we have sold the old home and we must go. 

And all our friends so good and kind, 

We are going away, leaving them behind. 

So I bid you goodbye old house and barn, 

And all of my friends and the dear old farm. 



Fourteen POEM 



Reveries 

As we sit by the fire-place 

On the old-time worn settee, 
And hear the branches creaking 

In the storm's wild melody, 
How our thoughts revert to childhood 

And the happy days gone by 
As we watch the roasting apples 

And the sparks that upward fly. 

Outside the snow is falling 

And the swaying, bending trees, 
Wear the snow-white cloak of Winter 

In the place of Spring's green leaves. 
Yet we heed not the coldness 

Of the W T inter 's chilling blast 
As we conjure up a vision 

Of the Summer days now past. 

In our dreams we see a picture 

Of a deep, dark, wooded dell ; 
And we hear the far off tinkle 

Of the petted leader's bell. 
To our ears there comes the murmur 

Of a slowly winding brook 
Then our fancy plans a picnic 

In a favored, quiet nook. 

Thus our truant thoughts will wander 

From the present to the past, 
Sighing for the joys of Summer 

While old Winter's speeding fast. 
Then the redly glowing embers 

And the whispering of the pines, 
Lure us from our musings 

From the past to present times. 



POEM Fifteen 



A Glimpse of the Forest 

There are beautiful flowers in the wild wood, 

That grow along with the grass so green ; 

You hear the birds a-singing 

In the trees along the stream. 

Wild berries in abundance they do grow, 

Along the little brook 

Where the foaming waters now. 

The blue birds and the thrush 

They will fly from brush to brush, 

You can hear their songs all day 

Until the sun light has faded all away. 

We will see the hawk; he's a bird that all despise. 

He is always watching with his sharp eyes. 

In times you will see him setting 

On the branch of some dead tree, 

He will sit there for hours through the day, 

Awaiting and a-watching for his prey. 

The woodpecker, he is always around 

And very easy is he to be found. 

He is a busy bird and his pecking can be heard 

As he pecks a hole in a tree, 

Until he is out of sight, you see. 

The mourning dove on some high limb will sit 

We can hear him coo and we are bound to see him too. 

Then, when the woods are dark the screech owl will appear 

And when you hear him hoot you will be in fear. 

The whip-poor-will is a noisy bird 

It is after dark when he is heard. 

He will sing all night with great delight. 

0, how cruel it is to kill the birds, 

I love to hear their merry songs, 

As well as pleasant words. 



Sixteen 



POEM 




PQEtf Seventeen 



Night-time 

Softly the day is dying, 
And darkness gathers 'round, 
Covering earth with its mantle 
Coming without a sound. 

In the blue arched dome above us, 
One by one the stars peep out ; 
Birds in the trees are sleeping, 
There is silence all about, 

Far over the distant river, 
Appears a silvery space, 
A gleaming pathway of radiance 
As the moon man shows his face. 

Slowly the night advances, 

Then fades into the dawn; 

We wake with a feeling of gladness, 

To find that the night has gone. 

Day follows close on its footsteps, 
And as we take up our toil once more, 
Let us face it with honest endeavor 
Greater than ever before. 



Eighteen POEM 



The Journey of Life 



As you wander along through the journey of life, 

With all of your troubles, both gladness and strife, 

It's sunshine and storms, snow, hail and it's rain, 

It is pleasure and sadness and all kinds of pain. 

We find pleasure and happiness that comes with the years. 

And all kinds of trouble and sadness and tears. 

For this world is wide and full of trouble, 

And vou must be very careful or vou will make it double. 

You must be careful of what you say, 

Or you will be in trouble every day; 

But we will always try to be happy and go through the 

world 
With a smile : W r e will live for the ones that love us, 
For the ones we find worth while. 

AVe will live for the ones that are kind and true, 

For those that have proved themselves true blue ; 

And as we go through the valley of life, 

The good we will defend. 

Finding the most of our trouble is caused by ourselves, 

From the beginning to the end. 



POEM Nineteen 



"The Flowers 



) i 



The flowers we find in our pathway, 

Have a duty, every one — 
As they open their bright hued petals. 

Each morning- to the sun. 

They teach us a wonderful story, 
They fill our hearts with love; 

They help us to be ever grateful, 
To our Heavenly Father above. 

If we but look around us, 

On the beauty that is ours, 
Our lives will be far brighter, 

Than the rainbow that follows showers. 

The birds, and bees, and blossoms, 

The mountains, rivers, and plains, 

Are all the work of the Master, 

As the towns are the children of brains. 

You may run your cars and factories 
And do a great many things; 

But you can't add an inch to your stature, 
Or stop the gentle rains. 

Without the help of our Maker, 

The great Omnipotant One, 
We are helpless as new born infants, 

Like mists before the sun. 

Let us all seek for wisdom 

And do our very best, 
To make this good world better, 

Before we are called to rest. 



Twenty POEM 



In the Jungle 

How would you like to live in a country, 

Where you'd hear the lions roar? 

In the diamond mines, with the Natives and the Boers, 

In the jungle with the elephant so large and strong, 

And the birds with their plumage so pretty and so long. 

When the sun is shining it is so terrible hot 

You will see the poisonous insects and the little Hotentot. 

Large serpents a hanging from the trees, 

And wild monkeys chattering with the little chimpanzees. 

In the waters crocodiles, five and ten abreast, some in single 

file. 
You will see them by the thousand in the stream we call the 

Nile. 
The Natives with their dark faces, with spears and arrows in 

their hands 
Make war with each other in this wild African land. 
And when you hear a gorrilla roar 
The chills will go through you by the score. 
You will think the sky is a going to fall. 
The trees will all tremble both the large and the small. 

Were you ever in the jungle and hear a lion roar? 
The first time that you heard them you would think, 
All your veins had bursted or your heart had ripped or tore. 
Y r ou can travel o'er the world, in all foreign lands, 
But when your in the jungle you have something on your 
hands. 



POEM Twenty-one 

Childhood's Treasure 



You ask me to tell you a story, 

At this glorious time of the year; 

To tell you in a few simple phrases, 
What is to the children most dear. 

To the romping, loving school boy, 
And our girls so sweet alway, 

To the very little children 
Just learning how to play. 

Is it books, balls, sled, skates, or mecanno, 
That to the boy gives keenest joy; 

What is it that holds the interest 
Of our manly earnest boy? 

Is it laces, ribbons, and bon-bons ; 

Dolls, danties, or chintzes gay, 
That fills the heart of our maidens 

From morn till close of day? 

What is it that pleases baby 

From dawn till setting sun, 

That beguiles the darling cherub, 
And turns every thing into fun? 

Now listen and I will tell you 

If you will come with me, 
And take a peep at the circle 

Gathered at Mother's knee. 

The faces of happy childhood 

Speak a language you can't forget 
As they turn their eyes towards Mother, 

Who has never failed them yet. 

Mother, their best and dearest, 

First in the hearts of all; 
Is acclaimed the choicest treasure 

That childhood can recall. 



Twenty-two POEM 



Why Should We Harry the Time A way 

When I was fifteen I wished I was twenty-one. 

And, oh, how fast the years they do run. 

In the Winter you are wishing for the summer to come. 

And when it is here you are not just satisfied, 

And that is the way the years they do glide. 

We are always hurrying the time away, 

Wanting the time to go fast for some particular day. 

Tuesday or Wednesday you wish the week was past 

So that you would get your little money on the last, 

Oh, why should we worry, and why should we hurry the time 

away. 
For as long as we have got to live it is a short time to stay. 
We go along and hurry away the day. 
It is not long and our hair is sprinkled with gray. 
And when you get old you are wishing to be back 
To the days when you were young and gay. 
So why should we worry the time away? 



POEM Twenty-three 



Autumn 

The frost-kissed leaves are falling 
In clouds of red and gold, 

The sun is brightly shining 
The air is clear and cold. 

The deep and silent river 
Beneath a bright blue sky 

Takes on the hue of Heaven 
Right pleasing to the eye. 

The orchards and the vineyards 
Give forth a fruity smell, 

And the odor of the pine trees 
Seems to cast on me a spell. 

I hear the small boys shouting 
As they whip the chestnut trees, 

And it sounds to me like music 
As it floats upon the breeze. 

The furry little creatures 
Are hurrying here and there 

Hording up their stores for Winter 
While they yet can seize a share. 

The birds are chatting gaily 
As they plan to southward fly 

To the flower laden gardens 
Till old Winter passes by. 

The ragged white clouds floating 

Across the distant sky 
Adds beauty to the picture 

Spread out before the eye. 

If we sum all these together 
Or take them one by one. 

What season is more pleasant 

Than the frosty bright Autumn? 



Twenty-four POEM 



My Cottage House 

There is a little old cottage that sets bj^ the sea, 

Many days and nights it has sheltered my dear wife and me. 

The winds they would blow and the waves would roll so high, 

They would come to the door of the cottage 

That sheltered my wife and I. 

I loved the sea and loved to hear it roar, 

And the ivy so green over our little cottage door. 

Oh, how many happy hours we have spent, 

In the little cottage where I had to pay no rent. 

For weeks we would walk along the sea shore 

But we will never take that walk any more, 

For my dear one is laid in her grave to rest. 

Oh, she was the one that I loved best. 

She has gone on her long and lonely way 

But I think of her in my travels every day. 

No more we will sit in that cottage and talk, 

No more along the sea shore we will walk. 

So I will have to travel alone, 

For my dearest has left my little cottage home. 



POEM Twenty-fm 



A Wayward Son 



There are sad hearts grieving at the dear old home 

And the ones you left there are waiting till you come. 

Mother dear is waiting, so is poor old Dad, 

How those hearts are aching for their wayward lad. 

Can you not remember how you promised them 

You would make a fortune and return again? 

When the birds are singing and the sun is shining bright, 

You will think of home and Mother and then perhaps you'll 

write. 
And when you are sleeping they to jou in dreams will come 
Often to remind you of another one. 

One who long has rested neath the trysting tree 

Who's young life was blighted, who's soul longed to be free. 

No you have not forgotten the promise made to her 

When you searched together for the opening chestnut burr. 

Days and months and years she waited, thinking always you'd 

return 
'Till her weary heart was broken and her soul for heaven 

yearned. 
Where the ivy's creeping o'er the garden wall 
You will find her lying neath the tree so tall. 
Then lay aside your pleasures and hasten to them there, 
For their hearts are breaking with a load of care. 

While you've been wandering in those lands afar, 

They have still been waiting with the gate ajar. 

Bring them this Thanksgiving a most gladsome joy 

Let them give a welcome to their returned boy. 

Then Mother Nature's bounty will fairer to them seem, 

When the dark clouds are lifted and they catch the silver 

gleam. 
To them, the old home's dearer than any other place, 
And there's not a sight more welcome than your honest, smil- 
ing face ; 
And when their lives are garnered to that beautiful home above 
You with thoughts most tender will remember those you love. 



Twenty- six POEM 






Merry Christmas 

Once a year comes Christmas, 

That glorious day of all the year, 

The day of fun and frolic, 

Of right, good-will, and cheer. 

The day for loving and giving, 

To those both great and small, 

From the highest, most righteous living 

To the poorest, humblest of all. 

There are some without home and kindred ; 

Tired, forlorn, and alone, 

Would be glad of a friendly hand-clasp 

And a welcome at some hearth stone. 

It might be the breath of the fir tree 

Or the voices of childhood gay 

That would give them the needed courage 

To travel life's hard pathway. 

Let us be friendly and thoughtful, 

Courteous, kind, and true ; 

Always remembering the stranger, 

'Tis the least that we can do. 

Ever looking around us, 

To see if such there be 

With whom we can share our gladness 

And our glorious Christmas tree. 



P OEM Twenty- at ven 



A Troublesome Neighbor 

How many people through life you have seen 

They are always borrowing, you think them a fiend. 

If you have anything better they will ask to borrow, 

And tell you they will bring it back tomorrow; 

But they will forget and then come for more, 

There are a hundred different things that brings them to your 

door. 
They will borrow this and they will borrow that, 
They will ask for your clothes and even your new hat. 
When it rains, your umbrella they have got, 
And they will have the best one in the lot. 

They want the w r ashboard, they have some clothes to rub ; 

The flat irons, your boiler, the wash line, and tub. 

She was at the store but was just too late, 

So she has to have bread for her husband ' to take. 

And if she's refused she will think that she's abused. 

So they will come to you for their supply, 

And when you want yourself you will have to buy. 

It is alright to borrow but not every day, 

And always be prompt and ready to pay. 

And let me add this word of advice, 

Do not borrow so much for it is not nice. 

Whenever you want' sugar, coffee, pepper, or tea, 

Go to the store and buy: Then you will see 

How much more sociable vour neighbors will be. 



Twenty eight POEM 



The Old Church Bell 

Beautiful in the sunset's glory 
Shines out the church spire tall, 

And the deep-toned bell within it 
Sends out its cheery call. 

As the last ray of sunlight 

Touches the far hill's crest 
It gleams athwart the belfry 

And the old bell now at rest. 

That old bell so well remembered 

Many varied tales has told 
Of new years young and rosy 

Of old years, drear and cold. 

It tells of merry makings 

Of funerals and weddings, too, 

It tells anew each Easter 

Of the Savior who died for you. 

Some times, its tones they are solemn, 
Again they are gay and loud ; 

But whenever the old bell starts ringing 
There is sure to be a crowd. 

It speaks aloud, "In Memoriam" 
Of the men in blue and gray, 

And of our brave boys in khaki 
War felled so far away. 

It rings for "Independence" 

As the Liberty Bell of old 
It flings out joyful music 

To freemen strong and bold. 



POEM Twenty-nine 



The Old Church Bell (continued) 

We bow our heads on Thanksgiving 

To its old familiar call 
Our grateful hearts overflowing 

With love for the giver of all. 

From the early days of the Pilgrims 

To the present goodly times, 
We wait for the voice of the old bell 

To peal forth in Thanksgiving chimes. 

And when on Christmas morning 

All the bells so gladly ring; 
We see in our minds a picture 

Of a manger and new-born king. 

The choir sings a beautiful anthem, 

And then the old bell swings 
Its silvery, deep tones, telling 

Of our Savior, Lord and King. 

From our hearts on the eve of the New Year 
Comes a long and deep-drawn sigh, 

For we know when the bell starts ringing 
The Old Year will surely die. 

A year full of hope and rejoicings 

Heartaches and sorrows, too, 
Yet we know it fulfilled its promise 

Brought when the year was new. 

Years the old bell has hung there, 

In sunshine and in storm 
Always willing and ready 

Each service to perform. 

Should ever it hang there silent 
With hushed and voiceless tongue, 

'Twould be missed alike by the old folks, 
And the happy, careless young. 



Thirty POEM 



Circus Days 



I am a jolly circus girl and work at my trade, 

I have traveled more than twice around the world. 

In most of the cities I have been in the parade, 

I have traveled with P. T. Barnum and Ringling Brothers, too. 

I have seen some pleasant days and some so very blue. 

I have medals from the kings and queen, 

And many foreign lands I have seen. 

On American soil I have traveled the most, 

Many times I have been from coast to coast. 

Under the big canvas, miles I have rode around the rings, 

I can tell some interesting stories and very funny things. 

Many would make you laugh, some would almost make you cry, 

For there are many things that happen to us as the years go by. 

How proudly I listen to the music of the bands 
When they parade through the cities in different lands. 
Large herd of elephants, and cages standing in a row, 
And thousands of people coming in to see the show. 
I can see my circus days are nearly o 'er, 
Then no more I will hear the old lions roar. 

Now my friends and acquaintances know what I have done, 

I have rode around the rings and the clowns have made the fun. 

My bright sparkling attire I will soon lay away, 

I will be very lonesome without my fine dappled gray. 

When my show days are over and I have rode my last, 

I will bid my friends goodbye and think of the past. 



STANDARD PRINTING CO. 
414 SUPERIOR ST, 















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